Nagpur, June 19 (IANS) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday announced that India is rapidly moving toward absolute self-reliance in safeguarding its national interests by eliminating its dependence on critical imports. Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the 10,000-Tons Aluminium Extrusion Press at the Ordnance Factory Ambajhari in Nagpur -- a unit of Yantra India Limited (YIL) -- the Defence Minister asserted that taking control of security-related necessities is an absolute imperative in today's volatile geopolitical climate. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also present at the ceremony.

"A nation capable of meeting its own requirements moves forward with the greatest confidence towards safeguarding its interests," the Minister stated, emphasising that the new facility represents a monumental shift from import-reliance to robust domestic manufacturing. The Defence Minister shared highly encouraging financial milestones, highlighting that India is well on track to achieve its mid-term goals ahead of schedule. Driven by the four core pillars of technology, workforce, knowledge, and national faith, India's defence ecosystem has undergone a massive transformation over the past decade.

“Total Defence production has risen to a record Rs 1.78 lakh crore in Financial Year (FY) 2025-26, up from just Rs 46,000 crore in 2014. Defence exports skyrocketed to an all-time high of Rs 38,424 crore in FY 2025-26, compared to less than Rs 1,000 crore in 2014,” said the minister. He added that the nation is poised to meet its upcoming targets of Rs 3 lakh crore in defence production and Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports much earlier than anticipated.

Reflecting on the structural reforms within the sector, Rajnath Singh lauded the success of corporatising the old Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) into Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). The operational autonomy granted to these units has yielded exponential growth as the OFB’s production rose to Rs 26,282 crore in FY 2025-26 from Rs 12,755 crore in the pre-corporatisation year of FY 2019-20. Defence exports for these units rose from a meagre Rs 81 crore before corporatisation to Rs 4,561 crore in FY 2025-26, with host unit YIL contributing Rs 397 crore to this figure. While acknowledging that the nature of warfare is evolving rapidly, the

The Defence Minister noted that conventional hardware remains as vital today as it was in 1947, and will retain its relevance leading up to 2047. Highlighting the success of Made-in-India equipment during Operation Sindoor, he emphasised that a strong military-industrial base requires continuous Research & Development (R&D) and Capital Infusion. Investing in modern machinery introduces vital technological links, improves manufacturing efficiency, and ensures top-tier quality.

The proposed 10,000-Tons Aluminium Extrusion Press will be one of the most advanced facilities in the country. It is designed to manufacture large, highly complex aluminium alloy profiles capable of withstanding extreme conditions. The output from this facility will directly feed into modern fighter jets and aviation structures, advanced missiles, space programmes, railways, transportation, and other strategic industrial applications, said the government release. Echoing these sentiments, CM Fadnavis called the project a giant leap towards the vision of Aatmanirbhar (Self-reliant) and Viksit (Developed) Bharat. He noted that the growing collaboration between DPSUs and the private sector is unlocking unique capabilities for New India, positioning Nagpur as a vital hub for indigenous defence manufacturing.

--IANS